Anaemia Iron deficiency is a common side effect of kidney disease. When your body doesn’t have enough iron. Red blood cells use the protein haemoglobin to transport oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body, and this protein is made possible by iron. Because of this, it can make you feel lethargic, frail, and out of breath.
Your quality of life might be negatively impacted by iron deficiency anaemia, which can also worsen kidney conditions and harm your heart. You can prevent these issues by controlling your chronic kidney diseases and treating your anaemia.
What Causes Iron Deficiency Anaemia?
Anybody can develop it, those with chronic kidney disease are more likely to do so. Additionally, it tends to worsen over time as kidney condition worsens.
There are five stages of chronic kidney disease. Iron deficiency affects around half of the patients with stages 2 through 5 of chronic renal disease. Diet and blood loss are the two ways that you might become iron deficient. Your body has a harder time absorbing iron from foods like vegetables and meat if you have chronic kidney disease. Both receiving multiple blood tests and receiving dialysis for long-term kidney disease might result in blood loss. Anaemia can result from low iron.
Your kidneys contribute to the creation of red blood cells, which affects the situation. Your kidneys produce the hormone erythropoietin in addition to removing waste and excess water from your blood (EPO). It instructs the body to produce fresh red blood cells. Your kidneys are unable to produce enough of this hormone due to damage from chronic kidney disease. Your red blood cell count decreases and you develop anaemia when your EPO levels are low.
However, having advanced kidney disease on its own does not always result in anaemia. Having advanced kidney illness increases your risk of developing anaemia, and if you have:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure or heart disease
- You’re over age 60
Anaemia – What Are The Signs?
Initial symptoms of anaemia are not always present. In fact, unless your doctor performs a blood test on you, you might not even be aware that you have it. However, when your heart, brain, and lungs continue to lose oxygen, you might:
- Feel breath shortness
- Feel exhausted
- Have difficulty concentrating
- Get dizzy
- Have a rapid heartbeat
- Have pale skin
Your heart is also harmed by Iron-deficiency anaemia. Heart has to work harder to pump more blood out when your organs aren’t receiving enough oxygen. Your cardiac muscle may become damaged by the added work.
Should I Consult To Doctor?
If you have signs like pale skin or difficulty breathing, consult your doctor.
Your doctor will perform routine blood tests to examine your iron level, red blood cell count, and kidney function. The amount of haemoglobin in your blood is measured during the anaemia test. Your haemoglobin level is low, which indicates anaemia.
Immediately call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Rapid heartbeat
What Is The Treatment?
The reason for your anaemia will determine the course of treatment. Treatment options include:
- Agents that stimulate erythropoiesis (ESAs). These drugs instruct the body to produce more red blood cells. They are injected into you.
- Transfusion of blood. A healthy donor’s red blood cells can treat anaemia by reducing its symptoms.
It’s beneficial to visit your doctor for testing and treatment if you suspect you have anaemia. Your quality of life may suffer, and kidney disease may get worse if you have anaemia. It can be treated straight away, which can help the progression of a chronic kidney condition.
